Key actuated double custody lock



Nov. 11, 1952 o, SHANN 2,617,289

KEY ACTUATED DOUBLE CUSTODY. LOCK Filed Oct. 11, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET lM/VENTOR 0,4. 5 HA NN W eWd ATTORNEY NOV. 11, 1952 O SHANN 2,617,289

KEY ACTUATED DOUBLE CUSTODY LOCK Filed Oct. 11,1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 H Wa T 55: 20 5. 5 .52!I I 1 2/ 3 I i 2 1- i 47 a l I\ 255 f so 26 28 29//v VEN TOR 0. A. SHA NN ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE KEY ACTUATED DOUBLE CUSTODY LOCK Oscar A. Shann, ShortHills, N. J., assignor to 1 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 11, 1946,Serial No. 702,812

Claims.

This invention relates to looks and particularly to looks of thekey-operated type.

While in its generic aspects the invention has for its object certainimprovements in looks of general application, its primary object is toprovide means whereby the operation of a look by its proper key may bepermitted or prevented, and more particularly to provide mechanismrequirin the successive operation in the same key slotof two differentkeys before the unlocking of the lock may be accomplished.

Other objects will be apparent from a study of the written descriptionand drawings.

The invention is particularly applicable to tumbler-type locks, such asthe type illustrated, for example, in the O. A. Shann United StatesPatent No. 1,793,254, issued February 17, 1931.

For such alock the operating key has notches of different depths cutinto its face for controlling a, series of pivoted tumblers or levershaving faces of different widths to correspond to the notches on thekey, whereby the operation of the levers by the key will align them sothat the key will be enabled to retract the locked bolt.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a stationary wall orpartition is inserted between two of the series of key-operated tumblerson which wall are pivotally mounted one or more supplementary levers.These levers are adapted to occupy a bolt-obstructing and a bolt-freeingposition. These supplementary levers are normally in a bolt-freeingposition and, therefore, are not adapted to be actuated by th regularkey. However, a special key is provided which will enable thesesupplementary tumblers to be actuated to a bolt-obstructing position,whereby the regular key will'be prevented from unlocking the lock untilsome later time when the supplementary tumblers are restored to theirbolt-freeing position.

The invention as above described is of special advantage as applied tothe lock for the cash compartment of a telephone coin collector tofrustrate attempts to pilfer the cash box by any person who forfraudulent purposes has secured a duplicate of the regular key for thelock. The improvement provided by this invention is advantageous in thatthere is no external indication that the lock structure differs in anyrespect from the usual cash compartment lock for the keyway remainsunchanged and the lock retains an external appearance similar to othersof the same type.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from aconsideration of the fol- 2 lowing detailed description in connectionwith the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a lock constructed in accordance with thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lock of Fig. 1, the cover beingremoved to show the locks interior;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the lock taken along the line 33 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 except that the regularlevers due to key actuation have actuated certain supplementary leversinto a bolt obstructing position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 except that the regularlevers due to key actuation have restored the supplementary levers intoa boltfreein position;

Fig. 6 is a view of a control key for controlling the setting of thesupplementary levers into both bolt-obstructing and bolt-freeingposition.

Fig. 7 is a view of a key which controls the positioning of thesupplementary levers into a bolt-obstructing position;

Fig. 8 is a view of a key which controls the positioning of thesupplementary levers into a bolt-freeing position;

Fig. 9 is a view of a key which controls the locks normal operation,when the supplementary latching mechanism is not in use; and

Fig. 10 discloses an alternative form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a lock is shown by way of illustration of atype similar to that described in said United States Patent 1,793,254.The earlier portions ofthe following description will be primarilydirected to features of the ac- .keys shown in Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 areadapted for insertion; The walls or sides of the slot 2| are notched orfluted to correspond with fiutings milled in the keys sides. The rearend of the barrel 20 has a member 22 which contacts the face 23 of thebolt 24 to withdraw the bolt upon rotation of the barrel. The levers ortumblers 25, 25, 21, 28, 29 and 39 are pivotally mounted upon post 3|,and are of different widths so that their respective key operating faces32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 31 extend towards the barrel 2D and contactrespectively the steps J, K, L, N, O and P of the regular key shown inFig. 9. As the barrel 20 is rotated bythe regular key, the key steps J,K, L, N, O and P contact and press against the lever faces 32, 33, 34,35, 36 and 31 respectively, and move the levers in a clockwise directionaway from the barrel 28 until the gates or slots 38, 39, 48, 4|, 42 and43, in the levers 25, 28, 21, 23, 29 and 39, are aligned with the stump44 of the bolt 24. At this point of operation the barrel 26 has rotatedto a position where the member 22 engages the .face 23 of the bolt 24,and as the rotation of the barrel continues the bolt 24 is completelywithdrawn, the stump 44 passing within the gates 38, 39, 46, 4|, 42 and43 of the levers 25, 26, 21, 28, 29 and 30. The bottom end of the bolt24 has an opening 45 which fits around the post 3| and serves to keepthe retracted bolt aligned.

A stationary partition 46 is shown positioned between levels 21 and 28and supported by posts 3| and 41 which extend through the openings 48and 49 of the partition 46. This partition extends to the edge of theslot 2|, as shown in Fig.

2, when the barrel is inits normal position. The end face 50 of thepartition 46 is notched to correspond with the configuration of the slot2|, so as to facilitate placing the partition 46 with its face 50 asclose as possible to the keyway, so that when a key is inserted in slot2| its flutings on insertion, and its steps on rotation, must conform tothe notches and immobility of the partition.

This partition 46 is shown as positioned between levers 21 and 23, butit obviously can be positioned elsewhere in the lever line, thusassisting in key step combination controls.

The barrel 28 has a slot 5| to enable the barrel to avoid the partitionwhen the barrel is being rotated 'by'a key.- The above-descriptionillustrates the normal operation of the look under control of theregular key 95 shown in Fig. 9.

'In accordance with a preferred form of this invention, as shown in Fig.1, three supplementary levers'52, 53 and 54 are mounted upon stationarypartition 46 and are pivotally sustained by pin 55 which is free torotate within openings 51, 58, 59 in levers 52, 53, 54 and also withinopening 56 in partition 46. Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noticed thatthe bolt 24 has an extra stump 69 which cooperates with thesupplementary levers 53 and 54, and which extra stump enters the gatesBi and 62 in these levers when the bolt '24 is retracted and when thelevers 53 and '54 are in their inoperative or bolt freeing position.This 7 function of the stump 66 in relationship to the levers 53 and 54can be readily understood by a study of Figs. 2, 4 and 5. It will benoticed from a study of lever 52 in Fig. 1 that this lever has no gateand that the lock stump does not contact tion. Referring again to Fig.l, lever 52 has a pro- J a jecting flange 63 which fits with freedom ofmovement in opening 84 in partition 48 and in openings 65 and'66 inlevers 53 and 54. As lever 52 is pivoted frontwards or backwards, flange53 acts on levers 53 and 54 and will move them with the movement oflever 52.

Let it be supposed, for example, that it is desired to avail oneself ofthe invention, due to a suspicion that an unauthorized duplicate of theregular key has fallen into unscrupulous hands. The present inventionprovides means whereby the regular key such as the key 95 of Fig. 9 willbe unable to retract the bolt 24; and for'this purpose a spec al keysuch as that of Fig. 6 is provided which is of such a configuration asto produce th s result, principally because step C on key 98 is higherthan the step L of the regular key 95 of Fig. 9. When key 98 of Fig. 6is inserted into key slot 2| and is turned, high step C on the key, asshown in Fig. 4, engages the face 34 of lever 21 and forces the leverback beyond its usual orbit of pivot .50 that the rear of lever 21contacts theprojection 61 on th face of lever 52 and pivots lever 52 ina clockwise direction away from lock barrel. Flange 63 on lever 52 actson levers 53 and 54 and forces these levers into the position shown inFig. 4. It will be noted that lever 54 is not visible in Fig. 2 or Fig.4 being concealed by lever 53. Also gate 62 of lever -54-is not apparentin Fig. 5 being positioned to the rear of gate 6| in lever 53. It willbe noted that gates 5|, 62 on levers '53 and 54 ar now out of alignmentwith extra stump 60 of bolt 24. When control key 98 of Fig. 6 iswithdrawn, lever 21 being spring actuated restores to its normalposition, but levers 53 and 54 remain in the position as shown inF-ig.4. The lock cannot now be opened by using the regular key 95 of Fig. 9or any duplicate thereof, for the steps on the regular key cannotrelease the supplementary mechanism.

When it is desired to free the supplementary mechanism the control key98 of Fig. 6 is again inserted into slot 2|, but is not inserted thefull depth of the keyway, but only so far as to place step F on the keyin alignment with partition 46. Referring again to Fig. -1 high steps Gand H of the key will then act upon levers Hand 29 and force thembackwards in a clockwise direction beyond their usual orbit of pivot sothat the rear of the levers contactthe projections 68 and 69 of levers54 and-53 and pivot these levers forward in 'a counterclockwisedirectioninto their normal position as shown in Fig. '5, whereby their gates 6|and62 are restored into alignment with the extra stump 66 of the bolt24. Levers 28 and 29 restore'by actuation of their springs their normalpositions. Lever 52 is restored to normal by levers 53 and 54 acting onflange bar 63. The control key 98 of Fig. 6 may then be removed from thelock after which the lock can be opened by the regular key 95 of Fig. 9in a normal manner. It will also be noted that the keys 98, 91, 96 ofFigs. 6, '1 or 6 cannot open the lock at any time for these keys are cutto control features of the supplementary mechanism only.

While it is preferred to operate the-lock by means'of the two keys 98and 95 shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 9, three-key combination is also shown.Figs. 7 and 8 show two keys 91 and 96 for controlling the supplementalfeature, key 91 of Fig. '1 being so cut that it acts upon lever 21,which lever actuates supplementary lever 52 by means of the high step Qon said key. Key 91 controls the bolt obstructing feature of thesupplementary mechanism. Key 96 of Fig.8 is used to release thesupplementary mechanism and place the supplementary levers in abolt-freeing position by means of the high steps R and S on said key,acting upon levers '28 and 29, and upon supplementary levers 53 and 54in a manner explained before.

The above description covers the'locks operation when the supplementaryfeature is optional and when the lock can be used as a normal lock withkey 55 of Fig. 9, until such time as the use of the supplementaryfeature is desirable. Fig. 10 shows a modification of the inventionwherein the supplementary mechanism is always in use, and accordinglytwo keys are always needed to operate the look. In this embodiment ofthe invention the control key 98 of Fig. 6 throws all threesupplementary levers into an inoperative or bolt-freeing position at thesame time. Referring to Fig. 10 the embodiment shown is superimposed ona lock such as displayedin Fig. 1. Levers 88, 81 and 88 of Fig. 10correspond respectively to levers 21, 28 and 29 of Fig. 1. Partition 92of Fig. 10 is the same as partition 46 of Fig. 1 except that anadditional hole 9| is drilled to accommodate the pivot of latch 83.Supplementary levers 80, 8| and 82 of Fig. 10 correspond in theirgeneral function to levers 52, 53 and 54 of Fig. 1, but are of adiflerent shape, and perform in a diiferent manner as will now beexplained. When the embodiment as shown in Fig. 10 is used, the extrastump 68 of the bolt 24, as shown in Fig. 2, is lengthened and extendsto lever 88, and is designed for cooperation with the half-gate 84 inlever 88. Levers 8| and 82 are spring actuated with their springsmotivated by the projecting flange bar 85 of lever 88. When lever 8|! ispivoted in a clockwise direction away from the lock barrel, its flangebar 85 moves forward towards the lock barrel and thus spring pressure isremoved from levers 8| and 82. It may be noted that in thefirst-mentioned preferred embodiment of the invention the operative orbolt-obstructing movement of the supplementary levers was in a clockwisedirection away from lock barrel, while in the present embodiment of Fig.10, their operative or bolt-obstructing movement is in acounterclockwise direction towards the lock barrel. When it is desiredto open the look, a control key similar to 88 of Fig. 6 but with highsteps out at C, E and F is inserted in the key slot and turned. Steps C,E and F act upon levers 86, 81 and 88 as explained before. Lever 86pivots lever 80 in a clockwise direction away from lock barrel, andlever 88 is then engaged by latch 83 which is secured to partition 92 bypivot pin 93. Lever 80 is held by the latch 83, and its flange bar 85moving towards lock barrel removes tension from the springs of levers 8|and 82. High steps E and F on control key act on levers 81 and 88 whichpivot levers 8| and 82 in a clockwise or backward direction away fromlock barrel, and into the r inoperative or bolt-freeing position, inwhich their gates are in alignment with tra stum 6.8 on the lock bo t 24Control I key 98 is now removed from the lock, levers 86, 81 and 88being spring actuated restore to their normal positions, and when theregular key 95 of Fig. 9 is inserted, the bolt can be retracted in theusual manner. As the bolt is retracted its extra stump 60 enters thegates 89 and 98 in the levers 8| and 82, and it also enters thehalf-gate 84 in the lever 88 forcing lever 88 and latch 83 apart, andmoving lever into its operative or bolt obstructing position. Flange bar85 on lever 88 moves backwards replacing tension on springs of levers 8!and 82, but these levers cannot move into an operative bolt-obstructingposition, but remain positioned inoperatively or bolt-freeing as shownin Fig. 5, for extra stump 6|] rests in their gates 89 and 98 andprohibits their movement. When bolt 24 moves upward again into itsoperative locked position, stump 68 is removed from gates 89 and 90 andlevers 8| and 82 automatically reset themselves into their operativeboltobstructing position.

It is to be understood that the above description is by way of example,that various modifications may be made Within the scope of the inventionas defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock operable by sequential manipulation of a number of difierentkeys comprising a casing, a barrel having a slot therein for thereception of the keys, a bolt movable relative to said casing andactuable by said barrel, a plurality of levers movable relative to saidcasing, arranged to detain and release said bolt in accordance withtheir positions, a partition among said levers stationary relative tosaid casing, a supplementary lever pivotally mounted on said partitionand positioned to detain and release said bolt in accordance with theposition of said supplementary lever, one of said plurality of levershaving a portion positioned to engage and cause pivotal movement of saidsupplementary lever to its bolt-releasing position, said one lever beingactuable by one of the keys to actuate said supplementary lever, and allof said plurality of levers being actuable by a second one of said keysto position them in their bolt-releasing positions.

2. A look actuable by sequential manipulation by a number of differentkeys comprising a casing, a barrel rotatable in said casing and having akeyway therein for the reception of the keys, a bolt movable relative tosaid casing actuable by said barrel, a plurality of main levers movablerelative to said casing arranged to detain and release said bolt inaccordance with their positions, a partition among said leversstationary relative to said casin a plurality of supplementary leverspivotally mounted on said partition arranged to obstruct and free themovement of said bolt in accordance with their positions, certain ofsaid main levers corresponding to individual supplementary levers havingportions arranged to engage and cause pivotal movement of saidsupplementary levers to their bolt-freeing positions, said certaincorresponding main levers being actuable by a first key to actuate saidsupplementary levers to their bolt-freeing positions and all of saidmain levers being actuable by a second key to position them in theirbolt-releasing positions.

3. A lock actuable by sequential manipulation of a number of diiferentkeys, comprising a casing, a barrel rotatable in said casing, saidbarrel having a keyway therein, a bolt movable relative to said casingactuated by said barrel, a plurality of stumps on said bolt, a pluralityof main levers movable relative to said casing arranged to engage andrelease one of said stumps in accordance with their position, apartition stationary relative to said casing positioned among said mainlevers. a plurality of supplementary levers pivotally sustained by saidstationary partition arranged to engage and release another of saidplurality of stumps on said bolt, certain of said main levers beingarranged to engage and cause pivotal movement of said supplementarylevers to their stump-releasing positions, said certain main leversbeing actuable by a first key to cause pivotal movement of saidsupplementary levers to their stump-releasing positions, and all of saidmain levers being actuable to their stump-releasing positions by asecond key.

4. A look comprising a casing, a barrel rotatable in said casing, saidbarrel having a keyway therein, a bolt movable relative to said casingactuated bysaid barrel, a plurality of key-operable levers movablerelative to said casing arranged to restrict and free the movement ofsaid bolt in accordance with their positions, a first supplementarylever movable relative to said casing arranged to restrict and free themovement of said bolt in accordance with .thepositionthereof, Vaseeondsupplementary levermovablerelative to said casing arranged to engageandmove said first supplementary lever to its bolt-restricting position,one of said key-operable levers being actuable by a first key to actuatesaid second supplementary leverandthereby'move saidfirst supplementarylever to its bolt-restricting position, a .second one :of saidkey-operable levers being arranged to engage and move said firstsupplementary :lever to its bolt-freeing position, said secondkey-operable lever being actuable by a 'secondl-keytomove said firstsupplementary lever to-its bolt-freeing position, and all of saidkeyoperable levers being actuable to their bolt-releasing positions by athird key.

5. Azlock-comprising'a casing, abarrel rotat- --able :in saidicasing,said barrel having a keyway therein, a bolt movable relative to saidcasing actuated by said barrel, a plurality of key-operable leversmovable-relativevto said casing arranged to restrict and free themovement of said .bolt inaccordance with theirposition, a partitionamong 'said'levers stationaryrelative to said casing, supplementarylevers pivotally mounted on said stationary partition all but one beingarranged -to restrict and free-the movement of said .bolt in accordancewith their positions, said one of saidsupplementary levers having aportion which engages the other supplementary levers, l

one-of said key-operable levers being arranged to engage and move saidonefsupplementary lever to position. the remaining supplementary leversin their bolt-restrictingpositions, vsaid one keyoperable lever being-actuable by a first key to actuate said one-supplementary lever andthere- OSCAR A. SHANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 799,338 Horne Sept. 12, 19051,166,381 Marvel Dec. 28, 1915 1,268,900 Watson June 11,1918 1,543,447Marvel June 23, 1925 1,549,581 Lewis Aug. 11, 1925 1,793,254 Shann Feb.17,1931 1,957,586 Gutman May 8, 1934

